Recall elections cost money, and fundraisers tonight are aimed at raising money to protect Senate President John Morse and to vote the Colorado Springs Democrat out of office.

Conservative columnnist Michelle Malkin is headlining tonight’s event in Colorado Springs on behalf of Bernie Herpin, the Republican who wants to succeed Morse should voters in Senate District 11 in El Paso County decide to oust Morse. So far, Herpin is the only candidate on the ballot. Others expected at the fundraiser at the Broadmoor include Senate Minority Leader Bill Cadman, R-Colorado Springs.

“The people in Senate District 11 asked for the recall, and now the Republicans are responsible for supporting our candidate in the race,” Cadman said.

The recall elections for Morse and another Democrat, Angela Giron, over their support for stricter gun laws this session, are set for Sept. 10 in their respective Senate districts.

The fundraiser tonight for Morse, at a Denver home, also will benefit Giron.

The group leading the recall of Senate President John Morse wants him to participate in a town hall style discussion, though it’s not going to happen as the state lawmaker has declined the request.

Sen. John Morse, D-Colo. Springs

Morse, an El Paso County Democrat, was invited via e-mail by the Basic Freedom Defense Fund to take part in the town hall next week at a theater in Manitou Springs, located in his Senate District 11. A spokeswoman for the group also extended an invite to Morse last weekended when the two appeared on a political cable television show, where he declined.

“I am meeting with constituents in person at their doorsteps,” Morse said Thursday. “I will run my campaign and the BFDF will not.”

“I had a telephone town hall with about 3,000 people on it,” said Morse, who faces a Sept. 10 recall election. “Now that was effective.”

Former Colorado Springs City Councilman Bernie Herpin is the Republican candidate on the ballot. Request for comment from Herpin, about if he wants to debate Morse, were not immediately returned Thursday.

The ballots being printed for the recall elections of Democratic Sens. John Morse and Angela Giron will have statements from both the lawmakers and the recall proponents, relaying direct messages to voters.

Clerks in El Paso and Pueblo counties have given each side up to 300 words to explain to voters why they should recall the lawmakers, or vote in opposition to the recall. In El Paso County’s Senate District 11 and Pueblo’s Senate District 3, which Morse and Giron represent respectively, ballots will be mailed to voters beginning Aug. 19.

Both state lawmakers face Sept. 10 recall elections for their support of tougher Colorado gun laws implemented this year.

In Senate Distric 11, after voters have an opportunity to read the statements from both sides, they will then be asked: Shall John Morse be recalled from the office of State Senate, District 11? If they select “yes” then voters will have the option to select Republican Bernie Herpin or write in a name.

The same process will occur in Senate District 3, though voters — should they select “yes” — will have the option to vote for Republican George Rivera or write in a name.

In his first public comments to local media since early June when organizers gathered enough signatures to force the recall election, Morse, a Democrat who is term-limited in 2014, said he’s accepted the fact that some in his district want to hold an election that seeks his ouster from office.

Sen. John Morse, D-Colo. Springs

“We should be focused on governing and not politicking,” said Morse. “But there’s going to be an election and there’s no changing that. Some in my district want another campaign and that’s what they’ll get. I’m talking to my constituents and will work for their votes.”

Morse won his Senate District 11 seat in 2010 by less than 350 votes in an election with a Libertarian candidate.

With the legislative session winding down, organizers in his district last Spring began gathering signatures to oust him from office for his leadership on tougher Colorado gun laws that limit ammunition magazines and require universal background checks on all sales and transfers.

Senate candidate Owen Hill, running for the state Senate, brought his wife Emily and their newborn daughter Elinor home from the hospital today.

As if running for the state Senate in one of the most closely watched races in Colorado wasn’t enough, Owen Hill’s wife on Friday delivered their fourth child.

Hill and his wife Emily announced the arrival of Elinor Jane, weighing in at
6 pounds, 14 ounces.

“Needless to say, in the final hours of a political campaign Elinor’s arrival is a great reminder that the reason I am running for this office is to make our community a better place to live in,” Hill said in a statement.

Elinor Jane joins siblings Kaiden, Miette and Ellis.

Hill returned to the campaign trail this afternoon, but plans to spend tonight at home, campaign manager Chris McIntire said, adding Hill’s family from Virginia is in town to help.

Hill, a Republican, is trying to unseat the Senate majority leader, Democrat John Morse, of Colorado Springs, in District 11. The race is considered crucial in determining which party controls the Senate.

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.